The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-16
HON. JOHN SHERMAN'S VIEWS
The Ohio Senator Addresses o Large
Assemblage of Voters at Wilmington,
Making illusions to the Prohibition and
Labor Parties, and Giving Attention to
Cleveland and His Administration.

paign to-day, at a large meeting held at the falr
grounds Among other things he said:
I'VE ought not to ignore the claims of political
organizations who protesting against both
the great national parties of our country, be-
cause they are comparatively few in number
and limited to single object or principle. lt Is
the right and duty of any body of American
citizens to seek by association to accomplish
anv measure they think will advance the puo-
lie interests and often by their zeal they COM
pei attention to just measures and reforms, but
usually succeed only in defeating the party
most in sympathy with them. This has been
the effect and still is the tendency OF the pro-
hibition party. No fair will dispute the fact
that the Republican party has done more.
and. from its composition and tendencies will
do more for the cause of temperance than the
Democratic party will or can do. The Dow law,
placed by it on the statutes of Ohio. is a
effective measure in restraining and lessening
the evils that flow from the liquor traffic than
any other measure proposed by either parry.
The leaders of the Prohibition party know full
well that every measure tending to promote
prohibition the restraint of the liquor traffic
has been and will be opposed by the Democratic
party party whose success In Ohio for four
years has been given to it by those who sell and
by those who consume spirituous liquors. And
yet our Prohibition friends aim all their shafts
at the Republican party and act as allies of the
Democratic party.
IF there is any just and practical measure of
public policy that will tend to advance the inter-
ests of labor laborng men, the Republican
party and has been ready and willing to
adopt it. Every measure in their interest in
the statutes of Ohio and of the United States has
been put there by the Republican party. The
homestead law. the eighthour law, the contract
emigrant law and that great system of public
policy to protect their labor from undue compe-
tltion by protective duties on imported goods,
have been the work of the Republican party
The statute books of Ohio are full or laws to pro-
tect their homes and household effects, TO guard
them in the mines and workshops, to secure
their wages by lien .s and e pps9sTesos
of infants and women The last
Republican Legislature passed many laws for
their benef5. | ask them to point out when aud
where the Republican party has failed to do JUS
tice to laboring men. Our long struggle for
thirty years has been to secure every mans
liberty and equal rights. 1t is only when So
clasts strike down all the rules of social
order which dignity the homes of DOOR and rich
alike, when Communists seek to enjoy the
property acquired by the honest labor of others,
or when anarchists seek to tear down all the in
stitutions of modern civilization, that the Re-
publican party, as the conservative party of the
country, resists their demands. These men
are criminals and not laborers. They dishonor
the word laborer who only seeks the free and
full enjoyment of the fruits OF his labor. and
will neither rob nor steal his nelghD prop
Now, fellow-ctizens, the great. enduring
question of national politics, which will be dis
cussed long after have passed away, is
whether the federal Constitution shall be fairly
construed and the great powers conferred by 1t
shall be fairly and fully exercised whenever the
common defense and general welfare of the peo-
pie of the United States demand their exercise.
whether this instrument shall be construed
tied and crippled by subtle reasoning. When
man believes in the first proposition he is Re-
publican; if in the latter he is a Democrat. And
now, more than ever, claim we should uphold
the delegated national powers When our gov
eminent founded there were four millions OF
people and thirteen States. some large. some
small, with many causes of division between
them, and with scarcely any means OF
communication. 1t was then natural
that the States should be jealous Of each
other, and of the general government, and
suspicious of encroachment by and power In.
vested in that government. Some of these
states, like Virginia and New York. hesitated
about accepting the Co institution because of the
large powers conferred. Parties were formed
on this basis. The Kentucky and Virginia reso-
lutions made party platform. The
Bourbons of to- day are Still fighting over It, and
tn ey are all in the Democratic party. Still. the
DO wers conferred. fairly construed, were upheld
by the Supreme Court. thanks to the profound
wisdom and sagacity OF John Marshall, the
greatest of Virginians, country grew and
prospered. The thirteen States became thirty
eight. with boundless Territories besides. JEFF
ferson doubted whether under his resolutions
he could purchase Louisiana, and yet by do
ing it, he added to the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence his second greatest laurel. Steam
power. railroads, relegraphs, and all the multi
piled inventions of modern civilization have
added to our wealth and means of communal
cation. The old causes of differences have
passed away, the embers only remaining. The
powers conferred by the constitution, fairly con-
strued, have been found sufficient to govern and
hold together the vast republic IN peace and
war, the highest credit among the
nations of the world to make our promises as
good as gold in any mart of commerce. to light
our mariners into ten Thousand miles of navi-
gable coast, to yield three hundred millions OF
revenue without complaint oppression, to SO
diversity our industries that our annual produc-
tions exceed six thousand millions; and yet there
is a party among who would cripple these
powers, construe away all the beuehclent duties
of SO great nation. Fellow-cltizens, j! don't
believe it. Now more than ever, would hold
on to and exercise with wisdom and prudence
the national power, not usurp power. but use
what our fathers. with more than human Wis
DOM granted We should dismiss forever from
our councils all local jealousy, all pride of local
ity, all petty sophisms. expanding still further
our national aid for national purposes. and ex-
tending regions the influence OF our
trade and commerce.
whenever the revenues are in excess OF the
public wants the taxes should be repealed or
modified. This duty has been frequently per-
formed by the Republican party. Since the
close of the war taxes have been repealed or re-
mitted that would have yielded $3.50. 600, 600 a
year. The last reduction in 1883 was made by
Republican Congress of more than $50, GOO 600
of yearly revenue, unwisely in some particulars,
but still reduction of revenue.
"And now again. under increased importations,
we have surplus revenue of fifty or sixty
millions Why did not this administration per-
form this duty2 They had control of the House
of Representatives the only body with power to
act first. They had the President, whose uty
it was to recommend such measures of relief as
ne thought right How did the Democratic party
meet this responsibility-the FIRST and chief
responsibility that has fallen them for
twenty four years. By contentious. divisions
and auarrels among themselves The control
ling wing and majority of the party wished to
make the reduction in the line Of the confeder-
ate constitution. They wished tc repeal and re-
duce the taxes that tended to promote and foster
American industry. They wished to make wool
duty free. and thus extinguish wool-growng as
industry in this country. They wish free
iron that the mining of iron ore here
should be superseded by the iron ores of Cuba.
Spain and Africa They wish to disturb that
vast volume of healthy industries that sprane
up under the encouragement of our tariff laws,
the immediate effect of which would be to in
duce more importations and lessen domestic
production. reduce the wages of labor. and PROB
ably produce panic. They could not agree
and 30 the accumulation of money goes on IN the
treasury Nothing can be done with it except
to buy United States bonds at large premium,
an expedient that Secretary Fairchild Is entirely